Chartres and The Labyrinth

    

I don't think I had any expectations about this trip.  I was filled with such gratitude about the opportunity, that I couldn't possibly have any.  Just being here would be enough.  And so it was...

After our long plane trip and another taxi and train to Chartres from Paris, I didn't think we would have the energy to even go to the Cathedral, but luck would have it, we could see it from our hotel room and knew it was an easy walk from there.  So, off we went. 

The Cathedral, in and of itself is spectacular.  You are awestruck from the moment your eyes gaze upon it from a distance and the closer you get, the more awestruck you are.  As we took it all in as we approached it and then went inside, I couldn't believe I was actually there.  The little girl from Western Pennsylvania's countryside has certainly wandered way beyond her roots.  Chasing rainbows, one might say.  Chasing something she has wondered about for years and now has the opportunity to see firsthand; not just in books or internet research. 

We did a quick walk through it, drinking in as much as we could with the energy we had left.  We paused on our way out, thinking about the next two days that we would have there.

The next day, we again made our way over to the Cathedral and drank in more of it.  Taking our time and sitting in various places to reflect upon it.  Thinking about how old this place was.  There is so much history to take in, when you visit a place like this. 

Chartres is a survivor.  It has survived a fire, the Crusades, WWII and the normal wear and tear of time.  Yet, somehow, it has survived and thrives today.  The labyrinth itself is still the original that was built over 800 years ago.  It was during the Crusades and the annual pilgrimage to the Holy Land, that the early Christians took each year, was impossible and dangerous.  The Roman church built over 20 labyrinths in the floors of various Cathedrals around Europe. It was to be a symbol for the Christians pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The people would make a pilgrimage to their local Cathedral and walk the labyrinth instead of the normal pilgrimage to the Holy Land.  I've read and been told that over the years, its use became out dated, unnecessary and the labyrinths around Europe disappeared.  They were either destroyed during the wars, taken out during renovations and restorations or simply not used anymore.  . Chartres is one of the very few that survived over the hundreds of years since this time.  How lucky we are that someone decided to revive the use and a few gems around the world, like Chartres, were discovered. 

And the day came when, suddenly, there I stood at the entrance to the Labyrinth in this amazingly old, beautiful and sacred space...one step at a time...so many others before me...in awe...I kept on walking...no great revelations...just a sense of peace and thanksgiving for having this opportunity.

How blessed we are to be able to travel all these miles and see this lovely, sacred space.  How blessed to sit awhile and reflect upon our lives; where we have been, what we have done and how we will spend the rest of our lives.  We will cherish this time.  This picture of Chartres Cathedral at night seems to sum up the peaceful, contemplative spirit of this beautiful and sacred space.